The head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry named the conditions for dialogue with the EU

Belarus is ready to resume cooperation with the European Union (EU) subject to a number of preconditions. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Maxim Ryzhenkov on October 28 during a speech at the Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security.

"We are ready for dialogue," RIA Novosti quoted Ryzhenkov as saying.

The head of the Foreign Ministry also outlined the requirements of the Belarusian side.

"This is respect for the government, which is respected by the Belarusian people today and has full power <...> This is a return by the EU to all existing mechanisms of cooperation in the field of combating illegal migration <...> Our neighbors today terminated all agreements – between border guards, between customs officers <...> And, of course, sanctions — lifting restrictions," he added.

Ryzhenkov emphasized that Brussels needs to restore the previously existing formats of interaction, including agreements between border and customs authorities, as well as lift restrictive measures against Belarus. According to the Minister, a full-fledged dialogue between Minsk and the EU is possible only if these conditions are met.

Earlier in the day, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarus was not involved in the deterioration of relations between the republic and Western countries and was only extending a hand to the West. He also noted that in order to improve relations with the EU, he proposed a ban on imposing sanctions on food and medicines, protecting critical international infrastructure and overcoming the migration crisis, which the West "must deal with on its own."

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